Historical Film Footage

D-Day bombings over France

France, June 1944

[English, 1:28]

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 National Archives - Film

Transcript

American and British aircraft supported the shock troops magnificently, preventing the Germans from martialing reinforcements. American marauders plastered peaceful-looking forests, the hiding places of Nazi tank formations and vicious dumps of high explosive. And in the skies, bombers and fighters maintained cover for the ground forces below.

Allied air superiority over Germany was a decisive factor in the success of the D-Day (June 6, 1944) landings in France. This footage shows the Allied bombing of suspected German positions during the battle. Allied air attacks both supported Allied ground operations in Normandy and prevented German reinforcements from reaching the area. The Allies would liberate most of France by the end of August 1944.